share.google/aimode/q6dzr4Y0… What would the benefits of the full SCO membership mean for Armenia and Azerbaijan? AI Mode However, the SCO’s security-focused nature and the historical conflict between the two nations introduce potential complications. If Armenia and Azerbaijan were to become full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the move would offer primarily geopolitical and economic benefits, aligning with their respective balancing acts between the East and West Both countries are currently SCO dialogue partners, with Armenia applying for full membership in July 2025 and Azerbaijan seeking to upgrade to observer status. Benefits for Armenia Balancing foreign policy:

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What would the benefits of the full SCO membership mean for Armenia and Azerbaijan?
AI Mode
However, the SCO’s security-focused nature and the historical conflict between the two nations introduce potential complications. If Armenia and Azerbaijan were to become full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the move would offer primarily geopolitical and economic benefits, aligning with their respective balancing acts between the East and West
Both countries are currently SCO dialogue partners, with Armenia applying for full membership in July 2025 and Azerbaijan seeking to upgrade to observer status.
Benefits for Armenia
Balancing foreign policy: Full membership would support Armenia’s strategy of a “balanced” foreign policy, which involves pursuing relations with Russia, Iran, and the West. As Yerevan’s ties with Russia and the CSTO have deteriorated, joining the SCO would offer an alternative framework for security and political cooperation.
Platform for dialogue: The SCO could serve as a platform for dialogue and de-escalation with regional players, including other former Soviet states and China. This could help normalize relations and address border issues.
Economic integration: Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which aims to promote regional connectivity, aligns with the SCO’s agenda of fostering economic cooperation and transport links. Membership could help integrate Armenia into international cargo transportation routes.
Benefits for Azerbaijan
Economic development and connectivity: SCO membership would promote Baku’s geo-economic priorities, such as developing international transport corridors. This would support its long-term ambitions for economic diversification and integration into Eurasia’s economic architecture.
Enhanced diplomatic standing: Full membership would elevate Azerbaijan’s status within the non-Western institutional framework. This aligns with Baku’s aim of maintaining a strong, independent foreign policy by engaging with diverse partners.
Strengthening regional stability: By engaging more deeply with the SCO, Azerbaijan can contribute to regional stability and security. This aligns with the organization’s stated goals and could help solidify peace in the South Caucasus.
Potential drawbacks and complications
Limited conflict resolution: While the SCO is a security bloc, its charter emphasizes non-interference in the internal affairs of member states and respects sovereignty and territorial integrity. Given the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the SCO is unlikely to intervene directly to resolve any future disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The organization’s focus on consensus among members could limit its effectiveness in addressing internal conflicts.
Divisive membership: The presence of both Armenia and Azerbaijan within the same security organization could be a source of tension. The SCO has a history of admitting rival states, as seen with India and Pakistan in 2017, but it has not fully resolved their underlying issues.
Western relations: Joining a non-Western bloc perceived as a counterweight to Western influence could further complicate relations with the United States and the European Union for both nations, especially for Armenia as it reorients its foreign policy.
Differing motivations: The two countries have different goals for joining. Armenia sees the SCO as an alternative to a declining alliance with Russia and the CSTO, while Azerbaijan views it as a way to enhance its diplomatic clout and economic corridors. These differing motivations could cause friction within the organization.
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